Ryan Tannehill was in the Miami Dolphins locker room, minutes before his weekly Wednesday media address, the one where he — like many other NFL quarterbacks — goes to a podium in a separate room, instead of answering questions in front of his locker. Teammates, mostly the quarterbacks, tight ends and wide receivers whose lockers are nearby, were playfully teasing him about the obligation. Tannehill, the seventh-year Dolphins quarterback who isn’t regarded as an outgoing, gregarious guy, joined in the fun.

“Let’s get excited!” he said clapping his hands and smiling. “I’m about to speak. Let’s go!”

Everyone laughed.

Tannehill wouldn’t have done that two years ago, just as he wouldn’t have kicked rookie running back Kalen Ballage out of a huddle, as he did this year during training camp, and he wouldn’t have had an active Twitter account, as he does now.